May 20, 2021, Fairview, OR – Chis Dickey, third grade teacher at Margaret Scott Elementary School in Reynolds School District, has been selected as one of 11 finalists for the Multnomah County Teacher of the Year award. Each finalist, including Dickey, were required to answer a variety of questions such as how they engage students of all backgrounds and abilities in learning and how they ensure that education transcends the classroom.

“One thing is still crystal clear to me. Chris believes, with every ounce of his being, that all students can achieve! Whether the student knows their strengths or not, whether other adults believe in the student or not, Chris knows that students can achieve,” states Debbie Nicolai, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Innovation at Reynolds School District, who was previously Principal at Margaret Scott Elementary and saw first-hand his devotion to his students. Nicolai added, “He spends each school year enhancing student assets, uncovering the strengths the students themselves are unaware of, and providing avenues of agency for students to build a positive, impactful, and successful persona.”

Regional Teachers of the Year are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, friends or family members to apply for the award. A Blue Ribbon Panel, consisting of educators and administrators throughout Multnomah County, chose the county’s teacher of the year. Each county in Oregon will select its winner to compete for the Oregon Teacher of the Year. The Oregon Teacher of the Year program started in 1955 and is managed by the Oregon Department of Education. The winner of the Oregon Teacher of the Year will be an automatic applicant for the National Teacher of the Year recognition.

Thanks to the Oregon Department of Education’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the 2021 Oregon Teacher of the Year receives a $5,000 cash prize (with a matching $5,000 going to their school!) and serves as a spokesperson and representative for all Oregon teachers. Three finalists will receive $2,000 with a matching $2,000 going to their school.

About Reynolds School District:

As a community, we prepare lifelong learners to achieve their full potential in a complex and interconnected world. Reynolds School District recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups in our society. Reynolds School District Board of Education ensures that all educational programs, activities, and employment will be free of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, parental or marital status, or age.

Contact: Steve Padilla, Assistant Director of Public Relations and Partnerships – spadilla@rsd7.net; 707.330.6559

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